The Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil, released the Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2024 on December 31, 2024. Compiled by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), this comprehensive assessment provides a valuable dataset for groundwater quality management and policy formulation across the country. Key highlights of the report include:
Data Overview
- Groundwater quality was assessed using data from 15,200 monitoring locations and focused trend assessments at 4,982 stations.
- It presents spatial and temporal variations in groundwater quality, serving as a baseline for policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders.
Chemical Composition of Groundwater in India
- Cations:
- Calcium is the dominant ion, followed by sodium and potassium.
- In chemistry, a cation is an ion with a positive charge, which means it has more protons than electrons.
- Anions:
- Bicarbonate is the most prevalent, followed by chloride and sulphate.
- This indicates that India’s groundwater is primarily of the Calcium-Bicarbonate type.
- Anions are ions that are negatively charged. An anion has more electrons than protons, consequently giving it a net negative charge.
Contamination Issues
- Sporadic contamination of nitrates, fluoride, and arsenic has been observed in some regions.
- Seasonal fluctuations in Electrical Conductivity (EC) and fluoride levels suggest positive monsoon recharge effects, enhancing water quality.
Agricultural Suitability
- Analysis of Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) shows:
- 81% of samples meet safe thresholds for irrigation, indicating favorable groundwater suitability for agricultural use.
- Localized issues of high sodium and RSC values in some areas necessitate interventions to mitigate long-term soil degradation.
- The North-Eastern States reported 100% of groundwater samples as being in the excellent category for irrigation.
- Sodium adsorption ratio is a measure of the amount of sodium (Na) relative to calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in the water extract from saturated soil paste.
